Kleiman



March 3, 1964 A KLEIMAAI 3,123,229

MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 9, 1959 45291 64 KL E/MHINVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,123,229 MATERIAL HANDLING APPARATUS AbrahamKleirnan, 76 Spruce Lane, Valley Stream, N.Y. Filed Oct. 9, 1959, Ser.No. 845,561 1 Claim. (Cl. 214-1) This invention relates to materialhandling apparatus and, more particularly, to a device for handling amattress.

Ordinarily, it is diflicult for one person to lift and turn a mattressas is often required when changing bed linens, and the like. It istherefore an object of the present invention to provide materialhandling apparatus particularly suited for handling large and bulkyitems, such as mattresses, that is extremely simple in construction,efficient in operation, and which will allow a single person to performsuch tasks in a simple and efficient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mattresshandling unit that can be conveniently collapsed and stored when not inuse, may be readily erected and used by a single person, and which hasmechanical advantage means for lifting and turning such heavy items asbed mattresses.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide materialhandling apparatus of the type described that is completely selfcontained, stable, readily erected and collapsed, and which can bestored in a relatively small area when not in use.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of thisinvention will become apparent from a study of the followingspecification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing,wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view, with parts broken away, of materialhandling apparatus made in accordance with the present invention inactual use;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view, partly insection, of certain parts of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

'FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross sectional view of a manuallyoperated winding device forming a part of the present invention;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of certain parts of thewinding mechanism shown in FIG- URE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary side elevational view, with parts broken away,of an upper extension portion of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of an adapter assembly for handlingcertain types of mattresses with the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of certain parts of theadapter shown in FIGURE -6.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof,material handling apparatus 10 made in accordance with the presentinvention is shown to include a main frame having a pair of spaced apartparallel sides 12 integrally connected together at one upper end bymeans of a transversely extending bight portion 14. Foot pads 16 areattached to the opposite lower ends of the sides 12 to prevent slippage,damage to the supporting surface, and quiet operation of the assembly.

The lowermost end of each side 12 is also provided with a bracket 18upon which a pivot pin 22 hingedly connects one end of a pair of legs 20that are selectively rotatable between a normally laterally outwardlyextended position and an upwardly folded parallel position with respectto the main frame. The outermost free end of each such leg 20 is alsoprovided with a cushion pad 24 which functions in a manner similar tothat of the pads 16 of the sides 12 of the main frame. A cross rod 26maintains the legs 26 in spaced apart parallel relation 3,123,229Patented Mar. 3, 1964 "ice ship, and further serves as a bearing for oneend of a collapsible brace arm 28 that is connected at its opposite endby means of a pivot pin 32 to an inverted channel stop member 3%.Another pivot pin 34 pivotally connects one end of another brace arm 36to the stop member 30, while the opposite free end of the other suchbrace arm 36 is pivotally connected by means of a pivot pin 38 to anoutwardly extending lug 4d of a cross piece 42 integral with sides ofthe frame intermediate the opposite ends thereof. It will thus berecognized that the stop member 30- is movable to an off center positionwhen the legs 20 are opened, thus providing a stable collapsible basefor the main frame which is locked in the open position until the endsof the brace arms 28, 36 adjacent to the stop member 30 are rotatedoutwardly in a direction away from the brackets 18 to permit the legs 20to be folded into the collapsed parallel position with respect to themain frame, such as shown in broken lines in FIGURE 2. In such foldedcollapsed position, the entire unit may be conveniently stored in asmall area.

A post 44 is secured to the central portions of the cross piece 42 andbight portion 14 of the main frame and has an upwardly openinglongitudinal bore 46 that slidably receives a depending stud 48 of anupper extension member 50 having a similar longitudinal bore 52. A pairof aligned openings 53 in diametrically opposite sides of the extensionmember '50 rotatably support a cross shaft 54 having a cable windingsheave 62 centrally mounted thereupon. A non-circular counter bore 56adjacent to one of the aligned openings 53 slidably and releasablyreceives a similarly shaped stop plate 58 secured to the cross shaft 54adjacent to a perpendicularly related crank handle 60. Thus, the sheave62 and supporting shaft 54 may be locked in any desired rotated positionsimply by pushing the shaft :74 inwardly of the extension member 50 toengage the stop plate 53 within the counter bore 56.

A flexible cable 64 has one end secured to the winding sheave 62, theopposite end of which is trained over a guide pulley 66' mounted upon arotatable shaft 68 that is carried by a pair of longitudinally extendingcars 72 at the uppermost end of an angularly related terminal portion 73of the vertical post 50 which overlies the base formed by the laterallyextending legs 20 in the open position. The cable 64 is guided outwardlyfrom the longitudinal bore 52 of the supporting extension member 5%through a slot 75 formed between the ears 72 of the angular extensionmember 73. The outermost extremity of the flexible cable 64' is providedwith a hook 65 that is intended to engage a central portion of aflexible bridle member 74 having hooks 76 at the opposite ends thereofwhich may be used to releasably engage the hand holds 78 on the side ofa mattress 80.

The operation of the apparatus will now be readily understood. Byopening the legs 20, and securing them in the open position by movingthe stop member 30 of the brace arms 28, 36' to the off center positionshown in FIGURE 2, the depending stud 48 of the vertical extension 50may be inserted into the bore 46 of the mounting post 44- so that theangular extension portion 73 overlies the base, thus providing maximumstability. Thus, by attaching the hook 65 of the flexible cable 64 ofthe bridle 74 that has been attached to the handholds 78 of themattress, actuation of the crank handle 60 will elevate the adjacentside of the mattress 80 to bring the opposite side of the mattress overto the side of the bed adjacent to the main frame of the apparatus. Oncethe mattress has been so elevated, it is then only necessary to rotatethe elevated side of the mattress outwardly toward the opposite side ofthe bed, to complete the mattress turning procedure.

With reference now to FIGURES 6 and 7 of the drawing, an adapter unit 85is shown which may be con veniently used with any mattress that does nothave hand holes '78 along the sides thereof. This adapter 85 includes asubstantially rigid support plate as having transversely extending slots87 at the opposite ends thereof. A flexible strap 8-3, such as a webbedstrap are received within the transversely extending slots 37 and turnedbackwardly into overlying engagement with an adjacent portion of thestrap to define a loop, such loop being closed in any suitable manner,such as by a rivet S9 to secure the strap and plate together. The plate86 is also provided With hook receiving openings 99' for releasablyreceiving the hooks 76 at the opposite ends of the bridle member 74,thus providing a convenient means for attaching the bridle andpermitting use of the hook 65 of the flexible cable '64. If desired, oneend of the strap '88 may be provided with a buckle or tightening eviceso as to facilitate insertion and securement of the side of the mattress86 within the adapter 35.

It will be recognized that any desired type of ratchet, spring, orclutch mechanism may be included in the winding sheave 62, withoutdeparting from the teachings of the present invention. For example, aspring may be used to yieldably maintain the Winding sheave in thelocked position to prevent accidental unwinding thereof when handlingthe mattress in the elevated position. Also, the knob of the handle maybe pivotally mounted thereupon so as to prevent it from becoming jarredaccidenta ly While the mattress is in an elevated position. Theapparatus may also include a built in clutch which will permit the cableto unwind rapidly when actuated, to thus facilitate the lowering of themattress to the desired position without having to manually unwind thesheave throughout the entire distance.

Because of the mechanical advantage arrangement and the stable base andupright supporting parts, it is a relatively simple matter for a singleperson to elevate and manipulate heavy objects, such as bed mattresses,in a simple and eflicient manner without strain, exertion, or the like.It is therefore possible to employ this coli lapsible material handlingapparatus for other household purposes wherever it is necessary toelevate heavy loads or objects for any purpose whatsoever.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to theconstruction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such isnot to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, whichis best defined by the claim appended hereto.

Iaving thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent:

Material handling apparatus comprising, in combination, a selfsupporting frame, a base foldably carried by one lower end of said framefor movement between a laterally outwardly extending open position and aside by side parallel folded position, a flexible cable, cable windingmeans carried by said frame, said cable having one end connected to saidwinding means, and guide means at the opposite upper end of said framedirecting said flexible cable from said winding means, said frame beingsubstantially inverted U-shaped having a pair of spaced apart parallellegs connected together at one upper end by a transversely extendingbight portion, and a vertical mounting post carried by said invertedU-shaped frame intermediate said spaced apart parallel sides thereof,said base comprising a pair of spaced apart parallel legs each pivotallycarried upon the lowermost end of one of said sides of said frame, andcollapsible brace means releasably securing said legs in an openlaterally outwardly extended position with respect to said frame.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS382,307 Huth May S, 1888 1,018,825 Hayes Feb. 27, 1912 1,961,119Ettinger May 29, 193 'r 2,023,790 O hmsby "Dec. 10, 1935 2,668,732Carlson Feb. 9, 1954 2,852,151 Smith Sept. 16, 1958 2,919,107 HalbrookDec. 29, 1959

